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Noemi moved to the central table, confident and eager. She looked around, there were four rats, a troglodyte, three humans, and a dwarf. The rats were typical members of 'The Rust', one could guess by their behavior and conversations that they were regulars to the tavern. The troglodyte was a warrior with a large bone club and a shell shield. He had several red tattoos on his whole body, including the face. Two humans seemed to be an old, gray, and pale-skinned white-eyed woman with a scar across her face and a ponytail, coming from Silver Sinners, equipped in a glaive, and one of her younger colleagues with a crimson armor and scarlet longsword at her belt. The other human was a hooded rooster in leather armor, with two light axes. At last, there was a dwarf with a heavy steel mace and a copper round shield on his back.

The first round passed. Nobody gave in.

During the in-between break, the dwarf spoke first. - “Ha-ha. How splendid, I didn't have such decent drinking partners in a year.”

There was a rat in chainmail, an iron helmet, and with a khopesh, who replied in a loud voice. - “Ya, ya. We're not planning to leave anytime soon, so you better prepare for some heavy rounds.”

“Ho-ho!” - The dwarf guffawed. - “I certainly would love to, but the barman here is pouring rather slow...”

Noemi laughed lightly, rats also did, but a bit louder.

Gray woman smiled and waved her head, jokingly, yet in stoical voice, replying. - “How impatient.”

However, the troglodyte's cackle drowned out everyone. - “Good grief, why won't we use that time to introduce. I'm Pazo, also known as the worm-eater.”

Pazo looked at his left, so everyone would take a turn in order.

“Tristana Vuella Prescone” - The girl with the sword replied, almost silently. She appeared quite sleepy.

“Jeanne d'Frisco” - Elder lady replied in a clear, resonating voice, as a soldier would.

“Noemi, the proud warrior of On'tharian swamps ”

“Konko” - One of the rats in a red shirt responded.

“Mirv” - The previous rat in chainmail immediately followed.

Their companion in black outfit and a half cloak was next. - “Hibrew Errest - a tracker for hire.” - He said while playing with a knife.

“Naridm” - The last rat introduced himself, he was wearing a bit tattered, plain, gray work clothes.

“Bolhor!” - Dwarf shouted. - “Of great copper forests!”

“Vivlav, the third son of Tru...” - A cloaked member of Roosters paused mid declaration. - “...mus.”

Right before the second round came, he was already drooling on the table.

“It was nice to know you, Vivlad, the third son of Trumus!” - Bolhor patted Vivlad gently on the back and gulped down his drink in one go. He was first to finish, so he took out a flint pistol and put it in front of him, in the middle of a table, opposite Noemi. - “As I already said, the barman could be quicker to my taste, but I'm afraid the pacing will not allow us all to have a nice chat, so I suggest a little game. I will spin that thing in front of you and ask a question to a person it points at. The next person spins it again, and asks another question of his choice...”

“Sounds excellent.” - Jeanne agreed to the game.

“I'm in!” - Noemi excitedly added.

Others nodded in agreement.

The gun landed on Hibrew Errest.

The dwarf laughed. - “Ho, ho! Hibrew, so may you tell us, what exact services do you offer?”

“Most often, finding stolen rewards and missing people. But If required, I can find a habitat of rare beasts or animals for you.”

Hibrew took a gun and spun it, it landed on Noemi.

“Noemi, that might be a strange question, but in your home, do you remember lights in the sky?”

“No, I've only heard that they were taken away.”

“How long did it take?”

“I don't know... under a few weeks.”

“Thanks, that all I've wanted to hear.”

Noemi didn't inquire why the question was asked, she spun the gun. It landed on Pazo.

“Pazo, in my village it's often utmost honor to receive a tattoo. How did you get yours?”

“Each tattoo has its own story! This...” - He pointed at the chest. - “...is from my initiation. Ten days on a tall pole, standing in rain, then ten days living in mud rivers.” - He pointed at arms. - “My wife's first fertilized eggs.” - He pointed at legs. - “Driving away the Locust of the pale tower and slaying the blind creature of the east.” - He pointed at the face. - “Entering the lair of the lost, to become a living sacrifice for the gods and live my last days...”

Pazo stopped just as the third round of drinks arrived. Hibrew consumed half of his drinks and decided it's time to go. - “It was a pleasure, but my body knows its limits well... remember, you can all count on a discount, see ya!”

Naridm tried to force the drink down his throat, but he vomited and was disqualified.

Pazo was feeling weaker after the last drink. He spun the gun then said. - “I will stay with you a little longer, but I think I got as lucky to speak as our friend Hibrew.”

“Pazo... it's still not over.” - Naridm said as he was leaving. - “Go beyond the limit, pal.”

The gun landed on Joanne.

“A tale from a grizzled veteran! It couldn't land any better.” - Pazo praised the knight-like lady, respecting her age. - “Tell us, how did you become who you are today.”

“I will have to skip the details, so it might not be an as spectacular story as you would expect. I was born in a rural village known as Lahtinue, in the lands of chalk.”

Joanne paused for a moment, recalling her joyful days. Everything there was white, fields of wheat, four-winged bird-creatures, her eerie feline pet, sun, their tiny but cozy hemispherical houses, arches of stone, and the faraway mountains.

She continued. - “I was conscripted into an army at age of twelve. They trained us well, in two years we fought mainly against Nikhari raiding our villages. They were small four-armed humanoids with three eyes, a flat nose, and a split tongue. I've lost a few dear friends during two years of campaigns. As we aged, we protected caravans... fought golems... had skirmishes with foreign nations... defeated a few chalk chimeras... and so on. I got married, had four kids – my precious Beatrice, sweet Lucille, brave Gustave, and sharp-witted Gilles. Then the Great War came. I was forced into duty once again. We lost. Opposing camp honored my officership and I got to live until mid-fifties, as their drill sergeant. When the second Great War started, I refused to participate in bloodshed and was exiled.”

Joanne recalled the only white-less phenomena which was the dark night, a vast white lake was shining bright in front of her eyes and she was required to walk into it and submerge, never to return again. - “For now, I've talked enough.” - The woman grabbed a gun and spun it.

It landed on Kazo, a rat of inconspicuous appearance.

“Dear Kazo, I would like to know, what is your profession?”

“I'm humble lumber for the treelings. There's a risk of monsters, but they pay well, so.. you know...” - Kazo grabbed a gun and spun it. It landed on Mirv. - “Uh, I know everything about Mirv, so maybe we skip this turn.”

Participants agreed for him to spin again. It landed on Tristana.

“Looking at you, I only wonder one thing. How many hours of sleep did you get last night?”

Tristana looked disorientated like somebody just awoke her. She spoke as she yawned. - “Twelve.”

“Strange. Is it normal for you?”

Tristana stretched her arms to the sides. - “Yeah... I mean... no... my race usually sleeps a full day, but it's because our senses are hyperactive the next day.”

“Explain a lot.”

The third round of drinks came. Mirv and Kazo passed out.

Tristana grabbed a gun, a bit reluctantly, and took her turn. It landed on herself. The girl stared dumbly like she lost her attention mid-spin, but in the end she realized that she has to spin again.

It landed on Jeanne.

“Jeanne, when are...” - The girl yawned again. - “...we leaving?”

“When I win, of course.” - The lady grabbed the gun confidently and started another round.

It landed on Naridm.

“Naridm, If you win, what do you plan to do with the reward?”

“I... I will...” - The rat burped lightly - “...b...” - He looked around, dizzy... - “Sor... ry” - ...got up from his chair, and run quickly to the toilet.

Jeanne didn't comment, she simply grabbed the gun again and took another turn. It landed on Bolhor.

“What exactly is the copper forest?”

“Beautiful place underground. Leave-less trees made of pure copper grow in all directions in tunnels made of bronze rock. You can mine them all day, our city was all based on copper, giant monuments, weaponry, jewelry. Resources were abundant and we lived well, all thanks to the copper forests.”

The fourth round of vodka came quicker than usual. Pazo gulped the drink sip by sip, but he was at his limit and fell from a chair mid consumption. Jeanne also passed out.

“Oh. Thanks for the night.” - Tristana spoke slowly, like a sloth, and grabbed her senior, dragging her away. Although still full of stamina, she just resigned.

Their little game was over. It was a final standoff between Bolhor and Noemi.

“I assume it's no longer necessary.” - Bolhor took his gun and hid it behind the belt.

“What is that thing anyway?”

“Oh, it's a pistol with a flintlock mechanism. A ranged weapon.”

“Ranged weapon? How exactly does it work?”

“How to keep it simple.” - Bolhor was thinking for a quarter of a minute. - “You load it with explosive powder and a ball of lead...” - He took items out of pockets and showed them to Noemi, then presented the loading mechanism. - “...then you pull the trigger, flint hits the frizzen, produces sparks which ignite the gunpowder and explosion shots the ball, that is the bullet, out of the chamber with enormous speed.”

“Oh, it's alchemy!”

“Indeed. The downside is, you can't find new ammunition anywhere, even in alchemical shops...“

The talk was interrupted by the fifth round of drinks.

Bolhor instantly consumed his drink and continued. - “...that's why you have to purchase expensive compounds from labyrinth climbers... and that's how I'm going to spend the first prize.”

“Ohohoh! No-no. You can dream about it, the second-place money will have to suffice.”

“You're a feisty one, but I bet your legs are barely able to walk.”

“Ha-ha? You bet, then look!” - Noemi stood up and climbed the table, then started a slow dance, with her arms extended and clasped above her head. - “See? After we're over, that's going to be my victory dance.”

The game was getting wild, regulars cheered and whistled. Bard decided to play his most sprightly tune.

“What's wrong? Did your legs actually give up, Bolhor? Why won't you join and prove me wrong?”

“It will take more than one round.” - Dwarf spoke to himself as he scratched his beard, then replied in a loud voice. - “If you insist.” - He climbed the table Noemi backed away, Bolhor showed his crude, traditional folk dance.

He only stopped for another drink, then tossed the glass away, breaking it, and continued. Noemi examined his moves and joined, copying the technique and the two danced together.

“Amazing! You've learned it in an instant!”

Noemi just smiled, appreciating the compliment.

Everyone around them clapped hands to the rhythm, barman waited with the drinks on a plate, having fun like everyone else and not wanting to interrupt. Noemi and Bolhor got sweaty and quite exhausted, so bard changed the tune to a slower one and the two sat down for the next round of drinks.

Noemi gulped down her drink immediately and wiped her face. The dwarf followed.

The second round came right after, Bolhor consumed his alcohol, then looked at Noemi. Her arm was clenching a full glass and her head was hanging above it.

“Noemi?”

Barman approached, checking on the girl, then nodded. Everyone cheered for the dwarf, throwing their hats above their heads or raising hands.

Bolhor climbed the table and declared that he's going to break the record of the tavern. In front of everyone, he consumed one drink, then another, another and another... people shouted and rooted for him, but the dwarf collapsed one drink before breaking a record.